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Monday, July 9, 2012

Author Interview - Christine Bryant - YA Fantasy

Christine Bryant

YA Fantasy Author

Thank you for stopping in to meet Christine. She's invited us to join her and her characters here in the gym on the bleachers as we prepare to watch her character, Kira, try to climb the rope! In a sense, we're stepping into the book for you!

I have the pleasure of introducing you to a fellow Idahoian! She gets to look out over the Snake River, too! Please join me in welcoming Christine! She'll be around this week to answer questions for you so please stop back for her answers to your comments. She's also having a contest drawing; be sure to comment to get in! Please take a moment to look over her books and visit her sites!

Christine has always been a writer. Even before she could
compose a single word with pen, she scribbled her version of cursive along the
open page just to see what it looked like. As a teen, she swiped her dad's old
Royal typewriter so her muse could breathe life into what her vivid imagination
had created.
She's spent the last twenty-five years married to the man of her dreams and
raising their two sons. After helping run the family restaurant for most of
their marriage, Christine finally broken away to pursue her dream of being an
author.
When she's not with her family or tickling the computer keys, she loves
camping, reading, scrap booking, listening to all kinds of music, and making new
friends.
Christine currently living in the middle of sage brush and lava rock with a
spectacular view of the Snake River Canyon in South Central Idaho.

Deanna: Christine, this is a great location! I'm excited you're here with us all week! Tell us a bit about yourself.

CK: I’m a
40-something mother of two boys who’s married to the man of my dreams and lives
in southern Idaho. I love the outdoors, playing games, scrap booking and just
hanging out with family and friends. When I’m not writing, I’m helping out at
our family restaurant or having lunch with a friend.

Deanna: What made you want to become a writer?

CK: I honestly think
I was born with writing in my blood. I have a picture of me when I was two
where I’m hiding under a table pretending to write. Of course, I was just
scribbling on a tablet, but in my mind I was already an author with fans.

Deanna: What type of hero do you like best?

CK: First of all he
has to be strong and gorgeous. But most of all he needs a few faults. A guy
who’s not afraid to show emotions, but is strong enough to overcome any
obstacle. Gentle with the ladies, but can kick the villain’s butt. I’m also a
strong fan of female protagonists and heroines.

Deanna: How many plots do you include in one of
your books?

CK: I always have one
or two subplots in my books. I think it makes the read more interesting and
real.

Deanna: Readers love to hear what we do all day! Tell us about
a typical day in your life as a writer.

CK: Very boring. I
get up, get myself ready for the day, then go to my office and spend the entire
day writing, blogging, marketing or networking on my computer. Of course I take
breaks during the day, but because my husband spends a lot of time working at
our restaurant and my youngest is 18, I’m able to write full time and enjoy
doing so.

Deanna: Many authors would love to have that freedom! Do your books
have a common theme or are they all different?

CK: They’re all
different. I tend to write whatever my muse throws at me. I do enjoy writing
clean romance. I think kids should be able to enjoy a story without having to
deal with a lot of profanity and sex staring them in the face. They get enough
of that in real life.

Deanna: It's good for our readers to know they can get that with your books! How long does it take you to write and then
edit a story?

CK: I’ve written a
first draft in as little as 30 days, but then it takes at least a couple months
to do revisions and rewrites. Then my critique group gets to shred it. More
revisions. Then the editor has her hand at ripping it up. I’d say all in all it
takes about 5-6 months to produce something of quality that I’m satisfied to
put out.

Deanna: Do you have to be alone to write?

CK: I’ve written in
just about any situation, but I prefer writing alone, in silence. Some authors
can crank up the tunes and get a lot done, but not me. I like it quiet.

Deanna: How do you go about naming characters?

CK: Depends. Some
names just pop into my head, while others take hours of flipping through baby
naming books or online websites to finally find the right one. I’m kind of
picky about naming my characters.

Deanna: Is it easier
to write about the characters if you find pictures of them before you write or
do you write then find character pictures?

CK: I tend to see the
character in my head long before I find a photo that fits. Sometimes that makes
it hard. Like I’ve never really found the right actor or model to play Octavion
in The Crystor Series. He’s one of a kind and at the moment, only exists in my
head.

Deanna: How do you pick locations for your stories?

CK: Depends on the
genre. In fantasy, I love creating my own world, creatures and situations. But
in contemporary settings, I try to find places I’ve been or that are easy to
research. I think it’s important to be accurate. The readers will be upset if
you describe a place they’ve been and it’s not right.

Deanna: Tell us about
your Bound and your characters. We’d love to read an excerpt!

CK: This is the
hardest thing for me. Because I know everything about the story, including the
details that never make it into the book, I have a hard time describing it in
just a few words. Here’s the blurb from the back of BOUND. And if you’d like to read the first two
chapters, you can go HERE.

YA Paranormal Romance:

When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best
friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it,
will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses,
magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge
everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior
she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of
being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and
survive.

BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite
sacrifice and untamed love.

Deanna: Wow, that sounds like an addicting series and not just for YA's! Thank you so much for being here, Christine. Readers, she'll be around all week so be sure to leave her a question or comment and don't forget to comment for the drawing!

CONTEST: I’d be
happy to give away an e-copy of both BOUND and BROKEN - that’s TWO lucky
commenters! Please leave your email addy so I can reach the winners! Drawings will be on Saturday, the 28th!